Globalization Multipolarity and Great Power Competition

183 Pages·2022·9.585 MB·English

by  Hanna Samir Kassab

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“Hanna Kassab important new work is of value for strategists and
decisionmakers, as well as for scholars for understanding the dynamics
of the US- China- Russia competition through a framework that master-
fully weaves together international relations theory on realism and inter-
dependence, with far reaching, on-p oint analysis of how that competition
is playing out in multiple arenas across the globe.”
Evan Ellis, Research Professor, U.S. Army War College
Strategic Studies Institute
“After several decades of reduced post- cold war conflict, improving
relations among the major world powers – the United States, Russia and
China – hostilities among them are now increasing. Kassab does a superb
job of tracking and explaining the reasons that globalization, largely driven
by U.S. interests, is being outpaced by this growing confrontation.”
Roger E. Kanet, Professor Emeritus, University of Miami and
University of Illinois at Urbana- ChampaignAls
“In this very relevant book, the author walks us through the evolution of
polarisms in international politics, brings to us adequately enough the fra-
gile nature of great power competition, and makes a convincing case how
in the 21st century multipolar world emerging powers have unsettled the
accepted norms and structures. One could clearly see the author building
on his earlier works and presenting before us the big picture while at the
same time taking care not to undermine the developments at small places
and their potential to shape events at big places. We live in an increasingly
polarized world, international politics is no exception, and the author,
while presenting the challenges the evolving order poses before the state
actors, does not lose sight of prospects of cooperation among them.”
Debidatta Aurobinda Mahapatra, PhD, Professor of Political
Science at the Florida State College at Jacksonville
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Globalization, Multipolarity and
Great Power Competition
In his new book, Hanna Samir Kassab examines changes and trends in
international politics and the competition between great powers for con-
trol of the international system. He argues that the increase in geopolit-
ical, economic, nationalist, and resource competition between three great
powers, the United States, China, and Russia, points to the changing
structure of the international system. This competition is a systemic one,
focusing more on the rules and norms that defined the system since the end
of the Cold War. This American-l ed unipolar order is translating into a
multipolar one. Kassab begins by tracing the decline of the United States
after the Iraq War (2003) and the Great Recession (2008) as well as the rise
of China and the resurgence of Russia. He describes major foreign policy
changes from George H.W. Bush to Donald J. Trump and how the various
administrations approached the international system. Russia and China
will increase their international influence as the United States pulls back
from the international system.
Written using simple jargon, Globalization, Multipolarity and Great
Power Competition is equally accessible to academics and casual readers
and laypeople interested in international politics.
Hanna Samir Kassab is Assistant Professor of Political Science at East
Carolina University, USA. He is the author of Weak States and Spheres
of Great Power Competition and Crime, Violence and the State in Latin
America with Jonathan D. Rosen.
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Globalization, Multipolarity and Great Power Competition
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For information about the series: https:// www.routledge.com/ Routledge-
Advances- in- International- Relations- and- Global- Politics/ book- series/
IRGP
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Globalization, Multipolarity
and Great Power Competition
Hanna Samir Kassab
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First published 2023
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2023 Hanna Samir Kassab
The right of Hanna Samir Kassab to be identified as author of this work has been asserted
in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised
in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or
hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks,
and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
A catalog record for this title has been requested
ISBN: 978- 1- 032- 28162- 9 (hbk)
ISBN: 978- 1- 032- 28163- 6 (pbk)
ISBN: 978- 1- 003- 29553- 2 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/ 9781003295532
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Newgen Publishing UK
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This book is dedicated to Alethia Cook:
colleague, mentor, friend.
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Contents
Acknowledgments x
1 Introduction 1
2 Evolution of the International System Since the End of
the Cold War 30
3 Rise of Geopolitical Competition 56
4 Weak and Fragile States in Multipolarity 75
5 Resource Security and the Changing International
System 100
6 Nationalism and Globalization in Multipolarity:
Unraveling of the Global Order 124
7 Conclusions: The Multipolar Future 143
Index 167